Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Kaine: Allow further waivers on court-appointed fees

Gov. Tim Kaine wants the bill allowing judges to waive the fee caps on court-appointed pay to apply in all of Virginia’s trial-level courts.

Compensation for court-appointed lawyers in Virginia ranks dead last in the nation. House Bill 2361, passed by the 2007 General Assembly, could alleviate that problem, at least partially. The bill would permit a judge to waive the cap on a court-appointed attorney’s fees in an adult felony case in circuit court.

But Kaine has proposed an amendment to HB 2361, adding a fee-cap waiver in juvenile court cases and for misdemeanor cases in general district court. The Assembly will consider the amendment when it returns to Richmond for the April 4 veto session.